If you’re a business owner, regardless of your industry, there’s one all-important fact that is indisputable - communication is the foundation of an efficient operation.
The better you communicate, the better your business will function. You want your team to be able to reach one another at a moment’s notice to respond to issues, function in the event of an emergency, and serve your customers, students, patients, or clients to the best of their abilities.
But the two-way radio industry is vast, and there’s a lot of information to sift through if you want to make an informed decision that will be both beneficial and cost-effective. That’s why we’ve put together this business radio guide, highlighting the very best in commercial two-way radios from uncontested industry-leader Motorola.
While we’re showing you the best of the best here, we also want to keep your specific wants and needs in mind. That’s why we’re making ourselves available to you by phone, email, or live chat. Simplyreach out to our radio expertsand let us match you with the perfect communication solution for your business.
What to Look for in a Business Radio
You know that you need a business radio, but you’re not quite sure which one you need. You’re not alone in this. Many of the customers we serve every day are in the same boat.
Before diving into the specific radios on our list, let’s first focus on what you should look out for. If you figure out your needs based on the factors listed below, you’ll be able to hit the ground running in your business radio search.
Band
Before deciding what radio you want to purchase, you need to know what kind of radio you need.
First off, you have your analog radios, which run on either a UHF or VHF band. UHF radios are ideal for indoor settings, and they’re remarkably good at getting around obstacles like walls, doors, furniture, and equipment.
VHF radios will function great outdoors, stretching for miles over open terrain. If you’re thinking about an analog radio, one thing to keep in mind is that many of them require an FCC license fee to rent the government-owned airwaves.
Then you have digital radios - many of these run on a 900 MHz ISM Band, requiring no FCC licensing fees. Motorola even has some digital radios that run off of 4G LTE cell phone towers.
Range
What kind of range are you looking for in a business radio? Believe it or not, this isn’t a “more is always better” kind of transaction.
If you’re running a restaurant, for example, you won’t need a radio that can transmit 3,000 miles. But if you’re employing truck drivers who are crossing the entire country, your average one or two-mile outdoor radio isn’t going to cut the mustard.
This isn’t a matter of all or nothing. It’s a matter of finding the perfect fit for your specific needs.
Durability
If your business comes with its share of risks and hazards, you’re going to want a device that can withstand some punishment.
The good news is that most of our Motorola radios are built to military specifications. This includes the ability to stand up to moisture, dust, shock, impact, and more. We don’t carry any radios that will stop working if dropped once, but if you’re using them in a hazardous environment, we can recommend devices that can withstand a full-on blast from a fire hose.
Again, it all depends on your specific needs.
Special Features
Take a look at your communication needs, then try and match those up to the features of the various radios we carry.
For example, if you need to communicate privately with one specific employee, we have radios that allow you to send private messages. If you want something that allows you to page the entire staff in an emergency, there are options for this as well. And even if you need encrypted communications because you’re transmitting sensitive information, we have something for you.
The Best Business Radios
The following four devices are some of the best business radios on the market. However, our catalog is extensive and goes beyond what’s listed here. If you can’t find the radio that fits your needs from these options,we want to hear from you.
Motorola Curve
The Motorola Curve is an advanced business radio specifically designed with three major industries in mind. Those arehospitality,restaurant service, andretail shopping.
This is a digital radio running on a 900 MHz ISM band. That means you won’t have to pay fees to the FCC to use it.
If you use the Curve indoors, you’ll have up to 20 floors of range to play with. Outside, you’re getting reliable communication for one to two miles. The Motorola Curve’s battery life lasts for 11.5 hours, which means that it easily outlasts the average nine-hour shift.
You can use the Curve for standard radio-to-radio functionality, but these devices can also connect to Wi-Fi, enabling Cloud-based services, including voice command processing.
Motorola TLK-100
TheMotorola TLK-100is the perfect solution for any business that needs to cover a lot of ground. Its range extends from one end of the United States to the other, providing reliable business communications whether your team is three miles or 3,000 miles away.
That’s because it runs off of 4G LTE cell phone towers. This device will also connect to a Wi-Fi network, ensuring that communications continue even in areas where services are weak. This radio requires an additional subscription to connect with cell phone services and can seamlessly communicate with its sister device, the TLK-150.
This is also a digital device, which means that you won’t have to pay anything to the FCC for licensing. On top of that, programming the radio will be a non-issue. When you purchase the Motorola TLK-100 from Tech Wholesale, we program the radio for you. That means all you have to do is open up the box and start communicating.
You can even use a smartphone with the Motorola WAVE OnCloud mobile app installed to communicate with the TLK-100 when away from the office/vehicle.
Motorola TLK-150
If you need a radio that you can take with you safely on the road, no matter where your business travels might take you, theMotorola TLK-150is the right choice for you.
Like its sister device, the TLK-100, this radio enables nationwide communication. However, it was designed to be mounted on a vehicle’s dashboard, ensuring that your drivers won’t have to fumble around for a handheld device and potentially be pulled over for it.
This radio also runs on 4G-LTE cell phone towers and can communicate with cell phones that have installed the Motorola WAVE OnCloud application. It can also seamlessly communicate with Motorola TLK-100 handsets.
Tech Wholesale’s radio professionals will program your Motorola TLK-150 radios for you before delivery, so they’ll be ready to go straight out of the box.
If you want a truly hands-free experience for your drivers, we have a wealth of special accessories for the TLK-150, including a foot-activated PTT button and visor-mounted microphone.
This radio will also allow you to communicate privately with specific drivers or reach your entire fleet at once with the push of a button. This is easier thanks to our set-up process, where we name each radio according to your instructions.
Motorola RDU4100
TheMotorola RDU4100is a heavy-duty 10-channel UHF radio designed for businesses that need a true powerhouse device.
It pushes a signal with a whopping four watts of power and has a range of 30 floors indoors or up to three miles outside.
The RDU-4100 also has 89 business-exclusive radio frequencies, so you won’t have to worry about hobbyists picking up your confidential communications. It also uses 213 privacy codes to make sure that every message is secure and private.
The Motorola RDU-4100 is a military-grade device built to withstand heavy punishment. It comes with a metal die-cast chassis encased in polycarbonate, meeting MIL-STD 810 C, D, E, and F. You could blast this device with a firehose, and it will shrug off the punishment and continue to work.
The ultra-high-capacity battery on this tank of a radio lasts for up to 18.5 hours.
At a Glance: What’s the Difference Between These Radios?
Motorola Curve
- Band: 900 MHz ISM Band (No FCC License Fee)
- Power: 1 Watt
- Channels: 10
- Weight: 5.11 oz
- Dimensions: 4.55” x 1.87” x 0.95”
- Outdoor range: Reliable communication for 1-2 miles
- Indoor range: 300,000 square feet (20 Floors)
Motorola TLK-100
- Band: 4G LTE (Cell-tower connection)
- Power: 1 Watt and Powered by WaveonCloud
- Channels: 8-96 channels
- Weight: 5.86 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.17 x 2.31 x 0.87 inches
- Outdoor range: Nationwide
- Indoor range: Nationwide
Motorola TLK-150
- Band: 4G LTE (Cell-tower connection)
- Power: 1 Watt and Powered by WaveonCloud
- Channels: 1-96 channels
- Weight: 1.41 lbs
- Dimensions: 6.6 x1.7 x 3.7 inches
- Outdoor range: Nationwide
- Indoor range: Nationwide
Motorola RDU-4100
- Band: UHF
- Channels: 10 channels
- Power: 4 watts
- Weight: 10.3 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.2 x 1.8 inches
- Outdoor range: Reliable communications for 1-3 miles
- Indoor range: Up to 350,000 square feet and 30 floors
Which Business Radio Do You Need?
The Best Radio for Light-Duty Businesses
If you have alight-duty business, like a retail store, restaurant, or hotel, then we recommend the Motorola Curve for your communication needs.
This device’s digital band actually saves you money, ensuring that you’re not shelling out to Uncle Sam for FCC licensing fees.
It also has an adequate range for a light-duty business, covering up to 20 floors inside and two miles outside. The Curve’s unique voice command functions can be unlocked when connected to a Wi-Fi network, which you probably have available.
You can also send voice messages to specific employees when you need to communicate something to them but don’t want to interrupt them when they’re with a customer, for example. These messages can then be played by that team member whenever they choose.
If you don’t think that the Motorola Curve is right for your business, you should check out Motorola’sCLS radiosandDLR series.
The Best Radio for Medium-Duty Businesses
Medium-duty businesseswill get a lot of great use out of theMotorola TLK-100andMotorola TLK-150, depending on their needs.
If your team is made up of service contractors who are crisscross your city or state (such asplumbers,electricians, orlandscapers), then the easily portable Motorola TLK-100 is a perfect fit. Not only is this a durable device capable of clear communication, but its nationwide 4G-LTE cell tower range ensures that your employees are never beyond reach.
The TLK-150 is ideal for vehicle-based jobs like delivery drivers or truck drivers whose routes might take them clear across the continental United States. It carries the same clear communication as the TLK-100 but can be mounted easily within your vehicle fleet for maximum ease and safety.
The Best Radio for Heavy-Duty Businesses
If you need a radio that can withstand the rigors of aheavy-duty business, look no further than theMotorola RDU4100. This device is capable of withstanding much more than an accidental fall into the sink. It meets military-grade standards, making it ideal for hardcore industries likeconstructionand even security ormilitaryoperations.
It’s also remarkably private, with 89 business-exclusive radio frequencies and 213 privacy codes to ensure that your confidential communications remain safe and secure.
Want to Learn More?
Your business needs two-way radios to ensure smooth communication at all times. That will lead to a more cohesive team and, ultimately, boost efficiency and make your business better as a whole.
If you have any questions about the devices we’ve discussed here,contact Tech Wholesaleby phone, email, or live chat. It’s also possible that none of these devices meet your specific needs. If that’s the case, let us know and tell us what you’re looking for. We’ll match you up with the perfect radio that will meet your requirements and budget.